The "Birth Pangs"

The following introductory teaching is from the Vilna Gaon, a
leading sage of the 18th century:

The redemption is called "morning" as it is written, "Morning is
coming" (Isaiah 21:12). And it is also called "birth" as it is
written, "Zion went through her labor and gave birth to her
children" (Isaiah 66:8). Just as the darkest part of the night
is the period just before dawn, and just as a pregnant woman has
her most painful days just before delivery, so will the exile
become most unbearable just before the redemption. (Even
Sheleimah, Chapter 10 - Redemption)

Dear Friends,

Jewish tradition speaks about the "birth pangs" of the messianic
age that is waiting to be born. What do we do when the birth
pangs start to get severe? The Prophet Isaiah responds to this
question in the following verse:

How are we to understand this advice? The words of the Prophet
have a deeper spiritual meaning; however, someone lacking
spiritual understanding may decide to interpret Isaiah's advice
in the following simplistic manner:

"Enter my room? What a great idea! The world will soon be
reborn, and in order to avoid the birth pangs, I will enter my
room, put on some music, and try to relax. Eventually, the new
birth will take place, and I will then leave my room and join
the celebration."

This interpretation is based on a mistaken assumption. This
individual imagines that he and the world are two separate
entities; thus, when the world is experiencing birth pangs, he
can "relax" until the world is finally reborn. What he doesn't
realize is that he too is part of the world; thus he too needs
to be reborn. Isaiah is therefore telling him to enter his
"room" and engage in various spiritual exercises that will both
alleviate the birth pangs and hasten the birth of the new world,
including the world within himself. In this spirit, the
classical commentator, Rashi, cites the following explanations
of "enter your rooms":

"Enter the synagogues and the study-houses. Alternatively, think
about your deeds in the chambers of your heart. In this manner
Rabbi Tanchuma expounded it."

We are not to isolate ourselves from others during this
difficult period. We are to join with others in prayer and Torah
study, as these holy endeavors expand our consciousness and make
us more aware of how we can hasten the "birth" of the messianic
age. We should therefore reflect on our behavior in the chambers
of our hearts, so that all our words and deeds will lead to the
birth of the new age of enlightenment, unity, and shalom. As a
result, we will avoid words and deeds which reinforce ignorance,
disunity, and strife.

Our tradition also teaches that we can experience a "taste" of
this future age through celebrating and keeping Shabbos, for the
wonderful future that is to come is called, "the day that is
entirely Shabbos and contentment for life everlasting" (Mishna
Tamid 7:4).

The age of the future Shabbos will be born, and the severe birth
pangs should not cause us to lose hope. As the Compassionate One
proclaimed to us: "Shall I bring to labor and not to birth?
Shall I, Who causes birth, hold it back?" (Isaiah 66:9)

May we soon experience the day that is entirely Shabbos and
contentment for life everlasting.
May we all be blessed with a Good Shabbos.
Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen (See below)

A Related Teaching:

Based on the writings of the Prophets, the sages of the Talmud
describe the difficult and painful birth pangs that the world
will experience just before the birth of the messianic age. The
disciples of Rabbi Eliezer therefore asked their teacher: "What
should a person do in order to be saved from the birth pangs of
the Messiah?"
Rabbi Eliezer answered: "One should engage in the study of Torah
and in performing deeds of lovingkindness" (Sanhedrin 98b).